WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino (left) and Rockland County Executive Ed Day call on Governor Andrew Cuomo to allocate 40% of bank penalty settlement money to the Tappan Zee Bridge.

WPCNR TAPPAN ZEE NEWS. From the Westchester County Department of Communications. December 22, 2014:

Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino and Rockland County Executive Ed Day  called on Governor Andrew Cuomo Monday to use a substantial portion of the approximately $5 billion that the state received in settlements with BNP Paribas SA and Credit Suisse Group AG over economic and tax improprieties to help pay for the new Tappan Zee Bridge which began construction earlier this year.

The two men, who lead the counties where the bridge sits on either side of the Hudson, said that $1.95 billion represented a fair and equitable figure for a bridge that currently has no funding plan in place.

“The bank settlement funds should be spent entirely on state infrastructure projects and not on recurring expenses, and a large portion of those funds should be used to help pay for the new Tappan Zee, a bridge of critical regional and statewide economic importance,” said Astorino.

“In the absence of anything definite from Albany, County Executive Astorino and I worked together to develop a Tappan Zee Bridge funding plan of our own:  a reasonable, workable and smart solution,” said Day. “Our commuters and businesses simply cannot afford the burden of even-higher tolls. Our idea to use a portion of the state’s bank settlement money to fund bridge construction will keep the economic wheels moving in both Rockland and Westchester counties.”

Astorino and Day said they came up with the $1.95 billion figure because it was half the cost of the new $3.9 billion bridge and because it represents about 40 percent of the bank settlement windfall.  They said 40 percent was more than fair considering the bridge’s far-reaching impact and importance as a key bridge between Upstate New York and Westchester, New York City and Long Island.  Nearly 40 percent of southbound crossings of the Tappan Zee end in New York City or Long Island according to the New York State Department of Transportation.

More than 138,000 vehicles cross the Tappan Zee Bridge every day.  That makes it the 3^rd most traveled bridge in New York State after the George Washington (276,150) and Verrazano Narrows (182,676) both controlled by the Port Authority.

According to the Construction Industry Council of Westchester, the seven counties that make up the Lower Hudson Valley (Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, Ulster and Columbia) have been historically shortchanged by the state, receiving 12% of New York State’s transportation funds.  Long Island receives 24% — twice as much.  Yet, Long Island only has about 25% more population than the seven Lower Hudson Valley counties (2.9 million to 2.3 million).

Finally, Astorino and Day said that without using a substantial portion of the bank settlement, motorists on the Thruway – not just on the Tappan Zee Bridge –would face big toll hikes.

“The Tappan Zee Bridge toll hike would be sky high but drivers throughout the state would see big toll hikes as well. This all can be prevented by doing the smart and sensible thing and that’s to make a sizable investment of the bank settlement funds into this project,” said Astorino.  “The money is right there.  We just need the governor to resist the temptation to spread the wealth to special interests and recurring expenses.  With infrastructure investments everyone benefits.”

Astorino and Day have sent their proposal to Governor Cuomo in a formal letter.

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WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. From the Office of the Westchester County Executive  DECEMBER 21, 2014:

Robert Astorino issued this statement this morning, reacting to the killingsof two NYPD Police Officers yesterday in Brooklyn:

“The murders today of the two New York City police officers is a horrific crime against our society and the values we cherish.  My thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these fallen heroes. The people of Westchester stand in sorrow with every New Yorker and solidarity with the NYPD and all police officers who put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe.”

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo reacted Saturday evening with this commentary on the shootings:

“Tonight, the thoughts and prayers of all New Yorkers are with the family and friends of New York City police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, who were assassinated in the line of duty. This deplorable act of violence is the opposite of what New York is and what New Yorkers believe in.

These brave officers, along with the over 34,000 other uniformed men and women of the New York Police Department, put their lives on the line every day to keep our communities safe.

They run toward danger when all of our instincts tell us to run away. Tonight, we all come together to mourn the loss of these brave souls.”

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EXCLUSIVE!

WESTCHESTER COUNTY EXECUTIVE

ROBERT P. ASTORINO

IS INTERVIEWED

BY PETER KATZ AND JOHN BAILEY

ON

WHITE PLAINS TV’S

PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

THE COUNTY’S MOST RELEVANT INTERVIEW PROGRAM IN IT’S 2ND SEASON OF THE INTERVIEWS YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS

ASTORINO

ON

HIS POLITICAL FUTURE

THE HUD HOUSING SITUATION:HEADED FOR THE SUPREME COURT

THE TAPPAN ZEE BUS RAPID TRANSIT SITUATION

TAPPAN ZEE FUNDING URGENCY

WHY THE COUNTY BORROWED FOR PENSIONS

HOW HE KEPT TAXES WHERE THEY ARE FOR 5 YEARS

THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE HAS HIS SAY ON 

PEOPLE TO BE HEARD

“THE PROGRAM WHERE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, COME TO SAY IT”

 NOW ON

www.whiteplainsweek.com

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. December 20, 2014:

Dr. Paul R. Fried, the man named by the White Plains City School District Thursday as their choice to head the White Plains Schools beginning in July 2015 (one day after he resigned as the Montville Township Superintendency) is one of a number of School Superintendents who are leaving New Jersey because of Governor Chris Christie’s enactment of a cap on Supertintendents of Schools salaries in New Jersey enacted in 2013.

The Bergen Record reported Wednesday that New Jersey caps Superintendent of Schools salaries at $165,000 in districts ranging from 3,001 to 6,500 students. Fried, The Record observed, faced a 30% cut in pay from his present Montville salary of $237,707, (if The Record is correct), dropping him $71,312 to approximately $166,395, less than the $211,200 he started at in Montville five years ago.

Previously, Dr. Fried retired from Mamaroneck Larchmont School District post as Superintendent after a career in education in New York encompassing the Ossining school district, where he was an elementary school principal and Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education.

The Journal News reported that Fried recives a pension from New York State based on his retirement from the Mamaroneck school district in 2010 of over $200,000 which will he will continue to receive in addition to whatever contract White Plains shapes with him.

Should the White Plains City School District approve a contract in January Dr. Fried will be the second retiree the district has hired as its Superintendent. Timothy Connors was also a retired Superintendent from Danbury,Connecticut.

The Larchmont Gazette‘s Judy Silverstein reported in 2010 the year Dr. Fried retired from Mamaroneck district, that the Mamaroneck schools issued this statement,

“Under Dr.Fried’s Leadership, Mamaroneck soared to new heights. For the first time, the District has developed a system for setting measurable goals for all key area of work,including student learning, which has evolved progress to be made in the areas of curriculum consistency and development. A structure now in place creates a highly organized process for teacher goal setting, observation and evaluation, and raises expectations and support for quality teaching. Additionally the district has significantly and positively charged its relationship with the Mamaroneck Teachers Association..he has paid special interest to early learning and intervention…technology–bringing the district to the 21st centruy with updated financial, student databases and communicators systems.”

The Record, on December 17, quoted Dr. Fried from his letter of resignation, delivered Wednesday to the Montville District: ““It is with sadness that I submit this letter of resignation,” Fried wrote. “The board, staff, students and community are aware of the unfortunate reasons behind my decision. It’s about the salary cap. I really enjoy Montville Township. It’s my fifth year here, and it’s been a wonderful experience.”

The Record reported Fried is at the close of a 5 year contract with Montville that would pay him $237,707 this year. He began, The Record reported, in 2010-11 at $211,200.

Karen Cortellino, the President of the Montville Township Board of Education is quoted by The Record on Dr. Fried’s performance: “Fried has done an incredible job for our district. Our schools and our community are enriched by having known and worked with such a talented and thoughtful educator.”

The complete Record article on the reasons for Fried’s departure may be viewed at

http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/news/local/2014/12/17/montville-school-superintendent-resigning-blames-salary-cap/20555761/

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Dr, Paul R. Fried
Choice for New White Plains Schools Superintendent replacing Timothy Connors

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the White Plains City School District with supplemented reporting by John F. Bailey. December 18,2014:

The White Plains Board of Education announced today  that it plans to appoint Dr. Paul R. Fried as Superintendent of Schools, effective July 1, 2015.  It is anticipated that a three-year contract with Dr. Fried will be presented for approval by the Board at its January 12, 2015 meeting at 7:30 P.M. in the High School Media Center.

The announcement comes within 2 months of resumption of a new search for a Superintendent after Mr. Connors informed the Board he would not serve for a third term as Interim Superintendent.

Dr. Fried comes to White Plains from Montville Township, New Jersey, where he has been Superintendent for the last five years.

Prior to that, he was Superintendent of the Mamaroneck School District from 2005 to 2010 and was a Principal and Assistant Superintendent in Ossining for the previous 19 years.

During his tenure in Mamaroneck, Dr. Fried contributed to the implementation of several important initiatives which focused on student and parent engagement, teacher effectiveness and the needs of a diverse community.

A reception for Dr. Fried will be held at 7 P.M. on January 12^th, prior to the Board Meeting and the public is welcome.  There will also be opportunities to meet the new superintendent in the spring, when he visits the community and the schools.

Dr. Fried emerged as the finalist among 62 candidates in a search conducted this past fall by former Assistant Superintendent  for Human Resources, Dr. Leonora Boehlert.

After initial interviews, the Board expanded the interview team to include representatives from the Civil Service, Teachers and Administrators and Supervisors Associations, the Superintendent’s Cabinet, Centro Hispano, and parents.

A graduate of SUNY/New Paltz, Dr. Fried earned his Master’s Degree there as well and has a Doctorate in Educational Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University.

           School Board President Rosemarie Eller said, “We are confident that, as a seasoned superintendent with a background as an educator in Westchester County, Dr. Fried has the experience necessary to succeed in White Plains.  We look forward to welcoming him here.”

The hire comes two months. after the previous Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Dr. Leonora Boehlert had been hired by the district as a consultant to conduct a search for a new Superintendent.

The present Interim Superintendent, Timothy Connors had informed the district he would not serve a third year as Interim Superintendent, telling the Board of Education, “though they would like me to come back,” that he was going to go back to his home in Massachussetts, (even though there are is New York state regulation forbidding him serving a third year as interim superintendent).

Mr.Connors, speaking on  the White Plains Television PEOPLE TO BE HEARD program with John Bailey and Jim Benerofe, confirmed his certain departure on last week’s telecast(recorded December 5), saying the school district “would have liked him to come back for a third year,” but he said he would not, even though there are no state laws forbidding a third year as interim superintendent.

Dr. Fried succeeds Mr. Connors who returned to White Plains last year as Interim Superintendent, after having served previously as Superintendent in the district from 2002 through 2009, replacing Dr. Saul Yanofsky.

Connors, WPCNR believes Mr. Connors’  9 years service (at the end of this school year) ranks him as one of the longest-serving White Plains School Supertintendents, told the Board of Education he would not return for a third year as Interim Superintendent which the Board, he said would have liked, but he said on PEOPLE TO BE HEARD,

2009.